Customer Reviews

Ionia

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, maybe not the "first", depending on how you fit "Wake", which was recorded earlier but not released until much later, into the big picture. In any case, _Ionia_ probably serves as the best starting point for becoming acquainted with the vast soundscape of sculpted time and space that is the music of Lycia.

I first got this album purely on my reading of the customary purple-prose description in the Projekt catalog, which made me expect something like Red House Painters, without really having any idea what it was like. So I ordered it in the mail, and once I got it, gave it quite the wrinkle of the nose when the opening peals of the title song poured out of the speakers. I immediately imagined myself turning it in used to my local independent record sore for a quick buck back on my investment, not taking very well to the apparent "gothic" bombast I was presented with. But listening to it the whole way through, I found a couple of songs I liked right away; the grandiose "This Moment," and the closer "Distant Eastern Glare." And as that song faded off to close the album, I began to understand what Lycia is about. Once again, some will dismiss them as "gothic", but that's not really who they are (although "they" in this case was really "he"; as Lycia at this point was actually a one-man band consisting of Mike Vanportfleet). Lycia's music is a very consistent, honest set of subtle emotional landscapes built on yearning, thoughtful, reflective music. Mike's vocals are the most unique thing about Lycia - whispered, husky, and mysterious; simple yet embodying very fully the singular blend of the harsh and the soothing - not unlike life itself - which defines Lycia's music. The vocals may well put you off the first time you hear them, but give it time, as I had to do, and it all makes sense. Lyrically there are certain key words and phrases which pop up repeatedly throughout all of Lycia's songs, enough so that it would be easy to jump on and criticize, but I think the consistency and willingness to stick with variations on a theme works really well for them (as I've mentioned in my other Lycia reviews).

Towards the beginning of the album are the most heavily thematic songs, such as the title song and the archetypal anthem "Desert", then the middle section is thick with sweeping instrumentals, almost like film themes. Then it closes with three extremely good songs that are somewhat more intimate and personal in nature; "Granada" paints a grey watercolor scene of evocative memory and association, "The Realization" is a satisfying, comforting testimony of self-knowledge and acceptance, and then the aforementioned "Distant Eastern Glare" wraps it all up very nicely.

Lycia's appeal is probably a bit esoteric and undoubtedly some people won't "get" it, and I wouldn't fault them for that, but I for one am extremely glad I stumbled across this excellent band.

The darkest, thickest, deepest & best release of the now defunct duo [in my opinion the best dark-ethereal wave act]. Could anyone give it back from the grave!?!?!
if you aren't sure which PROJEKT title to start with... THIS IS THE ONE!!!

I am a longtime fan of Lycia and I think its high time they were recognized for the beauty they create! This album takes the stark, mysterious desert as a theme throughout most of its songs. Its wonderfully dark and dreamy. Buy it, listen to it, love it. I have never been disappointed with Lycia's work. Try Estrella and Wake as well, hope you like them!

Lycia is a vastly overlooked and underrated band. Formed in Phoenix, AZ during the late 80's, it's kind of hard to describe Lycia's sound in general. Some people would use the word "Gothic" in order to describe it, but to me their whole sound is way too complex to be pigeonholed into any one genre. It is, however, very evocative of the landscape of the Southwestern United States. I think that the best situation I have ever listened to Lycia in was driving through the New Mexico/Arizona desert.

Driving through empty land and space, seeing the sun drown upon the distant horizon.

That's the best possible way to listen to Lycia.

I was there and met Lycia wich at the time was Mike Van Portfleet and David Galas while A Day In the Stark Corner was released and played at a small CD store(Vinyl Fetish) on Melrose in Hollywood. I was 17 and I felt them fairly inspired by this album more so then the later named. Lycia have an allout charm that is so hard to resist. They hit the time so well. I can only understand later scrutiny for their time sake but, all said and done this album was wonderful for its time and now nerly 13 years later I am still happy to hear this music once in a while. What wonders emerged from this 4 track outfit that later came to work its charms into so many after thier meeger beggings. I will always hold Lycia dear to me for being much more intuitive and creative then so many of thier darkwave/goth counterparts even amongest thier own lable especially. For what they had they had it well.

Lycia are very ambiant on a spectrum of apocalyptic tales waining through emotions and how all encomapassing they can be to an eclectic and ethereal mind. Lycia never missed to feel and display feeling no matter that they at this time could never compeet for more then underground status. Appreciation for this music seems to have its time borders and at the same time they do not. I still discover fans of thier older music all the time.

Lycia are definitive of a great explorations of depravity and beauty. You can feel free to appreciate this band and how far they did go despite a small budget. Lycia is a wonderful band in all truth ... very open and real to thier stance on all ethereal levels... Enjoy sincerely. Lycia is great.

Yes this album is one of Lycia's early recordings, and i think that the sound is downright impressive for a one man band to accomplish. The albums cover is fascinating but yet doesnt fit the music itself. I really like Lycia, but i dont really like thier early recordings. I like the later CDs that had the heavier walls of guitar synths, the deep drums and the more dramatic sound. Good album for you if you especially like more electronic ambient music.

This cd is awe inspiring. It is beautifully stark, moody and cold and has been the inspiration for many creative moods for me over the years. Absolutely brilliant.A true Goth/Darkwave classic and a must have. I would give 6 or 7 stars if I could!!!

I have every album by Lycia but "Ionia" is one of their best.Listening to it brings beautiful visions of the desert to mind.Lycia's music always has the ability to inspire my soul with its atmospheric guitar sounds and Mike Van Port Fleets haunting whisper of a voice.The song "desert" on this album is my favorite.

There is something charmingly odd and almost 80s-ish about some of the ambient, gloomy instrumentation here; several tracks are instrumentals, and, heavy on the gothic melodrama as they may be, there is a certain inspired charm to them and a definite accessibility. But these instrumentals aside, the album is far too infected by its singers idiotic gothic whispering to be worthwhile on the whole. You get the impression that he probably can't sing very well and had to sort of rasp and try to sound spooky to compensate for the fact. It's amusing the first couple times you listen, provided me numerous much-needed chuckles, but such charm wears thin fast. I suppose if you like spooky darkness and have no sense of aesthetic tact then it might strike an emotional chord with you; to me it just sounded incredibly dorky. This could've been a rather winning little disc, but most of the tracks melt into intolerable gothic silliness once the "singing" begins. If Lycia has released any albums on which there are no vocals, point me to it.